At least Washington DC has a bus system. For many food deserts around North America, especially in medium-sized cities, there are limited to no public transportation options.
also our nearest grocery store is 7 miles away. but we get there. I would say it's much worse here than it is in a city that has public transport. and you can keep the public transport, if I want that ,then I'll move to the city
Wow. My nearest grocery chain is only a block away. I can't imagine having to commute so far. If I really crave something I just walk, buy it and make it home in 10-15min. It really makes me put some of my worries in perspective.
@@michellebernal5668 the problem in her area is that the high level of crime drives the grocery stores away now that she has become an advocate she should organize residents in the area into a group , name it and call the alderman to tell him they want tough policing in the area
@@JoeMama-dy6op you aren’t understanding, the woman said that she couldn’t afford a bag how would be afford to buy a car? Also, driving is definitely not the same is walking especially with her being 71 years old.
In Mexico and California there's literally cars like food trucks that sell items from inside. In fact my aunt used to do this and she would make at least 1 thousand a day, some days up to 5thousand selling the basics like tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, avacado, limes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, apples, and other fresh food then in another car she would sell staples like coffee, milk, eggs, meats, bread, soaps, toilet paper, herbs, teas ect. She also had someone make rounds for fresh Mexican bread She would only target food deserts and largely populated apartments, she was the only one to do this and she was very successful. She said "if there's a need for something this big....the money flows like water" she got stopped because laws changed and these cars became illegal in her area but for as long as she could she went on and paid the fines imposed because she said "people need to eat but do nothing to help the community"
I've always heard of America as "the land of freedom," but in reality, what I see is tons and tons of regulations, especially regarding zoning. If those zoning regulations were more lax, we could see more small local businesses developing in residential areas to meet the demands of that population. The best way to solve this kind of problem is not more state intervention but the other way around.
Nah. Businesses just do not like making money selling products to willing customers. This is clearly a sign of these businesses choosing to not provide a service based purely on the race of the community. Totally. It has nothing to do with crime rates which would be remedied with more police because we actually hate the police. The police are racist as well, even the non-white ones. 🤡
It's about way too many crackheads stealing from the supermarket. Way too many people getting into fights in the bottle and can room. The supermarket just breaks even with low sales . Eventually this supermarket closed down. Same thing happened to my CVS up the street. Too many crackheads shoplifting. Went out of business. I see the same thing happening with my local family dollar, and Walgreens. They take the baskets fill it up with food ,supplies and walk out the door with it. We still have Walmart way out in suburbs but shoplifting happens there too! It's More trouble than what it's worth to insure everything if crackheads r going to steal everything. I go dumpster diving. Or go to a food stand, 3 in this hood. One food stand has donated bread from a local supermarket, rarely picked up goes bad have to put it in the trash. Don't be one-sided on this. What would you do if your store was repeatedly shoplifted from? Leave the hood! 😡😥✌️
FINALLY! someone speaking some *truth* to why food deserts exist; the shitty citizens ruin it for everyone. This is America. Businesses just want to make money. If they could actually sell their products without losing money due to theft or customers being on drugs and driving away good customers... they would. And for anyone who says, "Well, they have iNsUrAnCe..." If you get into a car accident... what happens to your monthly premium? The same thing happens for businesses when they get product stolen from them. After a certain amount of claims, insurance just does not accept the business as it is too risky. So, quit with the nonsense of, "if you see someone stealing groceries, no you didn't". That mentality is what fuels the problem.
This happens when stores that sell wholesome food close down and leave. Why? Because they were sick of the crime, the rampant shoplifting and the vandalism. These people brought this all upon themselves.
American University used to have a food policy class and we studied this exact issue in DC. And we studied the policy of raw milk, the large waiting lists for community gardens, and farmers rights all in DC. It's cool to see others becoming aware of this issue thru such a large source as NPR.
@@danieljellers the problem in her area is that the high level of crime drives the grocery stores away now that she has become an advocate she should organize residents in the area into a group , name it and call the alderman to tell him they want tough policing in the area
Before watching the video I had to comment because I can understand this. I took my mom to the DMV area and there were no grocery stores and restaraunts for MILESSS! I live in Dallas Tx and whether you are poor or rich, theres plenty of food, restaraunts and grocery stores. We were so annoyed at how far we had to go for everyday stores. Its really pathetic and makes no sense. Next time we go, we know where NOT to go. Geeze! This needs to change. Hope you're reading this city council in the DMV area.
Those are pretty low standards for a food deserts. I had to ride my ride my bike 2 miles in college because i didn't have a car and we didn't have public transit. Stories also avoid areas of high theft because you can't make a profit. Just look a the latest Walmart videos shot in a Chicago Walmart. It had food all over the floor and nothing on the shelves because people are stealing most of the food. 4 out of 8 Walmart's just closed down because of a high rate of theft.
No grocery store within 1/2 mile is considered a food desert? That's only a 10 minute walk or 5 minute bike ride... Definitely blown out of proportion.
Yeah, this is a non-issue. Growing up in a rural area, the closest grocery store was about 10 miles away for me. She's got public transportation. 1st world problems. And the worst part about it is that she expects the government to intervene.
Having grown up in a rural area myself, I understand the confusion behind your questions/thoughts. However, living and working in D.C. has opened my eyes to the very stark differences between rural and urban settings. There are many structural aspects that are such that you cannot compare the two. For example, we all know that most everyone living in a rural setting has a car or some mode of transportation. You have to-- there's really no other option. In D.C., and other cities, many don't have cars because of income, registration processes, and zoning laws (I can personally attest to how difficult it is to obtain a car in the city). You may think, oh, well take a bus, walk, or ride a bike. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Walking a mile, and then having to carry back groceries for your entire family is no easy task. Of course people do it (because they have to), but many are unable to due to age, physical inability, or lack of time. I could go on about this forever, but I just wanted to give a little context. No one should have to live miles and miles from food, rural or urban. However, when we're seeing drastic and obvious inequality within a city like D.C. (Where wealthier, and more white areas get at least 3 grocery stores within a few blocks), something needs to be done.
Unpopular opinion: not sure if I feel sympathy after living a long time DC no company would invest on places where crime is rampant, and people rob and sack their grocery stores and then complaining why they left us all alone.... like is crazy to think actions have consequences.
I returned to the neighborhood in Detroit I lived in until 4th grade last year. One of my dads and some childhood buddies still live there. And I heard they were gentrifying slowly. I have lived in Los Angeles and its suburbs and now live in Boston. Plenty of grocery market options. For reference, I live in a gentrifying community but it's considered to be a good neighborhood and kind of artsy. I live close to an inner city subway and right next door is a housing project, and right next to that is a regional grocery store, Stop n Shop. I walk 10 minutes the other way there is a Whole Foods. Back in the old neighborhood in Detroit, there used to be independently owned grocery stores, 2 of them. They are both gone. And the neighborhood was in much worst shape with crime and things like then than it is now. But now that place is a food desert. I have no idea where my dad and stepmom shop for groceries but thankfully they both have cars. I bet they shop somewhere near where they work.
@@jeromewade4110 oh, let me guess. The reason that supermarkets don't locate in high-crime areas is because of "racism". And you actually believe that?
So basically you need denser and better mixed communities, way better public transport and a city that isn't build for cars. I'm from Europe and it was pretty shocking for me that I couldn't go anywhere without having a car. I grew up riding my bike or using public transport to get around the city.
I know right! It's soo weird to watch American stuff here in Europe. In my town of 20.000 people there are 5 different grocery CHAINS, one of them has beside the big stores also small old ones. They're so cute and magical and scattered all around town, like every 200 m there is one. But we also go to those on the other side of the town, which are like 1,5 km away. On one side, I just wanna say to Americans: half a mile or even a mile is not much of a walk, don't be lazy, cardio keeps you healthy, but then I remember that it's still wrong because it's mostly black communities and also there are the disabled and elderly and that those crazy americans have guns everywhere. I can't even imagine being scared to walk around town in daylight. We have these cool things alled gun control and civilized society here.
Planned? No. It's entirely natural. Why did you move there? It was cheap. Why was it cheap? It lacks services and amenities that would drive up demand, and the price. Why is no one building supermarkets? Crime. Lack of profit. The same reason you aren't building one there.
I was thinking, maybe an idea would be for people to buy frozen food or freeze it themselves the leftover, that way they can have a stock of good vegetable and fruits in their freezer, so they eat more fruit and vegetables. Legumes when bought dry can keep for a long time and can be hydrated and then boiled for good nutrients, like protein and fibers.
Their communities are NOT so poor that they cannot have grocery stores on most streets of poor neighbourhoods. This is Washington DC. This is not suburbia.
Hey Toni, how can a business survive without profits and all the shoplifting?It’s not an accident they leave that neighborhood. You get free food and you’re still complaining.
I've always heard of America as "the land of freedom," but in reality, what I see is tons and tons of regulations, especially regarding zoning. If those zoning regulations were more lax, we could see more small local businesses developing in residential areas to meet the demands of that population. The best way to solve this kind of problem is not more state intervention but the other way around.
Food swamps & food deserts, unfortunately, exist throughout the country in poor rural and urban areas. That's a shameful tragedy. Healthy food is a basic human need and access to it a basic human right. So my question is, how does one start a grocery in these areas?
People did. These types of locations have the demand. It lacks supply cause the ghettos chase businesses away. Grocery stores operate on thin margins. The problem is when you're getting robbed, burglarized, and having your property destroyed by the same folks you're trying to provide products for. The same neighborhoods who admonish policing, advocate for "restorative justice", and think that businesses can afford getting broken into because "insurance"
I don't talk about the person portrayed the in movie but just in general; For a healthy person walking 0.5 miles (0.8km) should be doable. That's about 15-20 minutes per way.
Patrick Albrecht what if you are a 71 year old woman who has to carry back a weeks worth of grocery’s in many times cold or snowy weather ( since it’s dc). Even for a healthy person the idea of walking that distance for a basic human need is absurd.
800 metres its a 10 minute walk for the average person. It would take longer if there are very large roads to cross. Not a unreasonable distance to walk to a supermarket. But if travelling 5 km by bus takes more than an hour then thats a public transport infrastructure problem as many people could walk the 5 km in the same time the bus that took an hour.
@@robinsss access to proper reliable public transport gives residents access to a wider range of shopping areas therefore more food options without needing to rely on what is only within 5km
I live in a poor neighborhood in San Francisco and there is a Whole Foods within walking distance. I have been to many cities and many poor neighborhoods and this is the first poor neighborhood that I have lived in that is not a food desert.
@@buyerofsorts yes ur incorrect. It happens in areas with the highest poverty rates and crime rates. If you have a business are you going to put it in an area with high crime rates or low crime rates? Just wondering
@@cameron4855 Seriously!? You can't connect the very larger DOTS in front of you? Which areas have the highest poverty and crime rates in the U.S.A.?! Hmmm.... let me think..... And I have news for you. There were plenty of stores and shops initially but they all packed up and left! Are we on the same page yet?
Can at least 1 sain person explain to me a simple fact. Why in Poland where i come from if a situation like this was brought to light by any form of media including social media there would not only be self sufficent gardens long in place but also at least 10 business plans in the making by people that would flock into there to take advantage out of the scarcity of resources available. I think i know the answer - black mob violence.
Why would any sane company want to put a location in "low income community"? After the Summer of Love in 2020, you're asking for it. Plus the "equity" laws regarding theater are absurd. You get what you vote for. Clean your communities up and stop acting like animals.
Its a new thing youtube is doing to any government funded broadcasters, even if they are only partially government funded. Its on PBS and similar stations as well.
Of course when you arbitrarily include low-income as part of the definition of a food desert for purely ideological reasons, you'll find it matches low-income areas. It's a manufactured result, a bit of propaganda which NPR is spreading here. Two miles is not that far. It's a leisurely one-hour walk. Any able-bodied person should be very capable of this. It's unfortunate that a 70-year-old woman has no younger family or friends to do her shopping for her, but that's beside the point. This woman lives in a nice, clean apartment and gets high-quality food - all for free! She then accuses those paying for this of some dehumanizing racist conspiracy against her! And NPR spreads this view in a sympathetic light without any qualification! What a joke! These neighborhoods don't have proper grocery stores with fresh produce because the locals rob and vandalize such stores and choose to eat junk food over healthy food, even when the junk food is more expensive. There are poor neighborhoods of immigrant communities from East Asia and elsewhere that have plenty of fresh produce. Bribing and forcing grocery stores into these neighborhoods is not going to get the locals to start eating broccoli instead of chips and soda. This is a delusional fantasy concocted by those who haven't actually seen the people they pretend to be so concerned about.
I do shopping in dollar store... but NOT every time ... hahaha.. I do shopping also in Alberston, QFC, Safeway, Aldi, Costco, Wincoo, FredMeyer... but NOT every time always at the same store... NOT every time !!! ... just one or another store every week... But NOT every time at same store !!! .. The reasons : prices... items.. product... conveniences.. my moods on that day.
Yeah, I kinda agree, but you have to consider she's in her 70s-I know she looks younger. Also there's the disabled and really old elderly in like 80s and 90s that can barely walk. But most of all, it's not fair because it only happens in poor and/or mostly black neighbourhoods. I would make EVERYONE walk at least half a mile to the grocery store (except old ladies). It will be soooo funny to watch fatass white american men to stop playing video games and go on a walk. 🤣
It's a concern, but it seems to be more of an issue about transportation. I think in the future most buses will be replaced by single person automated pods. They will go right to where you are, you ride them directly to the destination, in this case a grocery store, load the groceries, then it will drive you back and drop off you and the groceries, and it goes back to the nearest pod station to recharge. Of course some will still have their own cars, so they can have the one they want and not have to wait for it to arrive, and might want to hack it so it can't be controlled by an outside computer. But whether they do it with automated pods or traditional buses, it is an issue of transportation. Rather than trying to dictate that a private company builds a grocery store where they don't want to, we should enable people to get to the grocery store.
No, they chose to live there. Just like she chose to live where she does. It's not a problem, it's a choice. She probably chose it because it was cheap, but if it became more desirable, demand, and rents would go up, and she couldn't afford to live there anymore.
Half a mile away from a grocery store? That’s like 99% of Americans. What do you want the grocery store to be right next door to you? The CDC recommends people should try to walk 5 miles a day and people are griping about a 1/2 mile walk. We are getting so soft.
It takes money to move, along with having enough money to afford a deposit for rent, moving truck, boxes to put your belongongs in, and etc. If you're utilizing food stamps, taking the bus, and on a limited fixed income your probably not going to be able to afford living in areas with actual grocery stores rather than a dollar general.
She's trying to walk too fast, maybe for the camera? And I'd wear some running shoes, maybe rescued from the trash, rather than good boots like that, for a "long distance" grocery run. Those shopping cart things associated with little old ladies are a Godsend, because they can hold a fuckton of groceries. On Food Stamps, I'd buy essentials to get me through the month first, stuff like oatmeal, pork chops, etc., stuff that lasts and you can buy meat and freeze it. Food deserts suck, but so does trying to run a market where theft is a huge thing. In my town the downtown Safeway closed and ostensibly it was because of a parking validation conflict with the building owner, but theft was huge and the place was basically ghetto as fuck.
Shopping for food or just about anything else is concentrated along busy streets. Where you find fast food you also find grocery stores. There is no such thing as a food desert. If you can get to a fast food outlet you can also shop at a grocery store within a few blocks of that McDonalds. It's all about choices.
*This is modern day "FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC APARTHEID" by corporations and governments that fail to govern the well being of its citizens.* When financial profits are put ahead of creating societal abundance in the lives of everyone, apartheid takes place ie. a financial and economic vacuum is created in one area for the benefit of another. It creates a win-lose situation and not a win-win situation. Understanding corporate finance is critical to being able to understand the reasons why this scarcity of profits thinking kills economies and eventually the corporations that feed on their own greed instead of giving to create more abundance. Finance still obeys the law of conservation of energy and other laws of physics (Bachelier, late 1800s). *"For those who have much, more will be given. But for those who have little, even the little they do have will be taken from them." - Matthew **25:29*
You forgot to add the black mob violence into your very simplified equation. In Poland where i come from there would be self sufficient gardens and more than 10 business plans in the making if that kind of story would be brought to light by any media including social media.
Because the US is a largely, but not completely, race-based caste system, the Venn diagram for "of color" and "poor" largely overlap, but not completely. There are poor white people too, and what's funny is, generally their accents, lack of (and contempt for) education, and general attitudes make them very likely to stay on the bottom.
@@alexcarter8807 Nice classism you got there, seriously. So much contempt for poor whites, and nothing but sympathy for poor blacks. Nice you feel into the trap of Identity politics, which keeps both at each others throats.
The only thing that can work in black neighbourhoods is a pawn shop , you can become a millionaire as a pawn shop owner in poor black neighbourhoods. It’s funny videos like this make them look like victims, they fail to show how urban black neighbourhoods treat businesses, I had to step in and help a Chinese senior dude, getting punched in the face by some random black dude for politely asking him to leave the store, nobody wants to get hurt while conducting normal everyday business, stop committing horrendous amounts of crime in your immediate areas
No grocery store can survive if there are other grocery store every 800 meters away. Eventually, people would choose the better grocery stores, and get the less desirable grocery stores closed.
You dont have to get cars or grocery stores, all you need is change into a high income neighbourhood to loose your victim status according to this mockumantary.
Firstly if entrepreneurs are scared of their neighborhood is their fault, moreover half a mile is quite easy to walk or they could share a car, maybe 3/4 household could buy a car and use it to go shopping together... I don't this is a government problem
@@rdred8693 That's a simple minded way of putting it. Far more complicated than that. So many reasons why those neighborhoods are dangerous. Plenty of blame to go around and some goes to the community itself. But it's clear that there is no REAL effort by those in power to do anything about it. In fact they see all this as an opportunity. Opportunity to control and defeat an entire people. These are my own people and I can assure you that I go hard on them. I keep telling them the other side wants to bring you down and you keep making it easier for them. In reality though society has completely failed them. This is a fact.
@@ibenzawla Do you really think those in charge really care about poor white people too? The fact is, the powers that be just want more power for themselves. They will do anything to achieve it There is a reason BLM was embraced by corporate America, and Occupy Wall Street was shut down so fast. They want us all fighting each other, rather than them.
@@rdred8693 Yes its challenging for all but I can assure you no other race face the same challenges as blacks and there is no debate on that. In fact the entire system is designed to make sure they are always left behind. Now I wouldn't have said so years ago when I first came the US. In fact I used to put the blame on them. But I was super naive back then. Digging a little made me realize how monumental a challenge my people face. Just one tiny example. The current opioid crisis ravaging rural America is seen as a "publice health emergency " and rightly so BTW. Compare that to the Crack epidemic in the 70s and 80s. The prison industrial complex saw that as a major opportunity. Politicians from both sides of the isle delivered. But then guess what? The challenges that these store owners face today are partly connected to that inhumane policy. Then there is housing, education, health care, infrastructure... There is nothing spared.
God Bless her if she can get 'em, in my experience if you make more than about $50 a month you'll only get about $10 in food stamps a month. Food Stamps are one of the best gov't programs ever, every dollar in food stamps stimulates $2 or $3 in the economy.
Somehow ALL those business people who want to make a profit won't do so with food? SOmehow they won't open a store in a "food dessert"? Supply and Demand! IF THERE REALLY WAS A DEMAND IN THESE FOOD DESSERTS THEN THE BUSINESSES WOULD OPEN UP. WHen grocery stores do open up the people DO NOT BUY! "Fresh food" is NOT purchased in these locations. THAT IS WHY THERE AREN"T ANY GROCERY STORES! Use consistent thinking, are corporations greedy and will do anything for a nickel? Are there all these hungry people with money who cannot get food? Common critical thinking, please.
Celina, then why don't YOU go and open one up for that one person since you think it is so just. That way you can get paid for your time and effort to run the store. PUT UP OR SHUT UP!
I find it hard to believe that not enough people will be willing to buy fresh foods and vegetables, red meats, poultry, and vegetables every day or on most days from a green grocery store and even if the prices are only slightly higher they wouldn't do so. The Black Community may be the poorest racial ethnicity in the United States, but there is enough wealth in the Black Community to have start green grocery stores in areas where their populations predominate and enough wealth even for a lot of people from these communities to purchase the items from green grocery stores enough for them to make a profit.
@@musafawundu6718 You might find it hard to believe, but it's true. Most poor Americans - even many middle class Americans - have a totally degraded food culture, do not cook, and prefer to eat junk food instead of anything even slightly healthy. Go to these neighborhoods and you'll see obese people with obese children buying giant bags of chips (crisps in UK English) and bottles of soda with their food stamps. They wouldn't know what to do with fresh vegetables if you gave them them for free. Meanwhile in France, all children learn to cook and appreciate good, fresh food, including fruits and vegetables, in public schools. This is a deep cultural and educational failing in America that's being deliberately misinterpreted for ideological and political reasons.
@@jeremylavine Leaders of communities must make the efforts to have green grocery stores available within reasonable distance of all residential areas. They should also institute education from junior secondary school through senior secondary school on nutritious foods. From elementary through high schools they should be offering lunches with properly cooked foods low of sugars and saturated fats. Even the poorest districts have the means to significantly alter and improve things with regards to what is prevailing now if they had the political will to do so.
but please don't just say it's a race thing , because that's total bs. I live in the deep south and their are plenty of white and black folks stranded in a food desert. we grow a lot of our food. also business isn't going to come to an area if there is no profit. it's about the choices people make during their life and things that happened to them . but it's not about black or white! ok? ok!
Yes but this report is specific to DC. Every region is different but places like DC, NY or the entire NE are actually far more racially unequal than anywhere else in the nation including the deep south. Try taking the DC metro and watch as the people disembark. This is one area that Democrats have completely failed and I say so as a registered Dem.
Obesity in the Black community is a serious health problem, especially among women, many of whom are enormous. Food deserts will encourage the obese to be more physically active in the pursuit of sustenance, and should encourage neighborhood vegetable gardening and raising of poultry for a healthy and plentiful food supply. The destruction of community supermarkets due to nonstop shoplifting and flash mobs may prove to be a blessing after all. Eat more 🍎🌽 & 🐟 instead of 🍔🍕 & 🍦.
Is this a joke or parody? Really? I am 69 and I powerwalk for over 2 hours three times a week. I have no car and my commute to the store is longer than hers. I walk further to the bus stop than she does, and I have never thought of myself as under privileged by living in a food desert. Such whiney people. For me it is good exercise. Geesh!
Ahh.. The nonsense. Let's break this down shall we She retired yet she doesn't have a pension? Has EBT? Where's her husband? Crime is also a factor?...crime is the biggest factor. When places like Walmart and a giant have to close because of thousands to millions of dollars lost via theft, that's an issue. It's not about race. It's about reality. Many people make poor choices in life and expect to be bailed out. She can move her ass to Nebraska, afford a house and some land. Grow food and purchase what she needs. She's not serious about her life.
Something tells me that this woman will continue to waste her time and money running all over the city to save 1$, even if a local supermarket opens up.
Poor neighborhood is a euphemism for black neighborhood. those who are smart enough to know what that means don't live there any more. Day ain't gots no stos.
She sounds stupid saying it is planned - it isn't directly planned it is a result of economics which she might want to take a class on. At the core, a poor area will have less stores vs a rich area as it can't support (afford) many stores which is a BUSINESS. Anyone running a business knows you place it for return on investment and a food store is not a public service. She instead should be trying to get the city or government to open a non-profit food store as that could be an option but likely still far away from her. Or she could go after the bigger fish like proper community planning where you don't end up with one side of the city poor and another rich that ends up creating a larger difference then just a food store. One of the main problems in the US was most locations/cities/etc were not planned to be an integrated area (stores,schools,walking/biking paths,etc) - Japan is by far one of the best places where planning with proper zoning allows for easy public transit using fast trains, stores can be built on the 1st floor of a very small house, etc -- which all lead up to functional communities with public transit options if needed. However, no one is pushing this in America which will just continue to cause issues like in this video. This will likely never be corrected in America until law makers stop going after money and power and truly want to help their people. We honestly need to make every person in power (town/city/etc) take a class on proper known working community planning and zoning - and better yet make them take it again if they get into office and require all highschool students to take a class on it. For example in a small town/city in Japan - people who don't take on normal jobs will often get a small house with a small store front on the 1st floor (next to other houses with the same) where they can provide a small service for the area or products. This allows those people and therefore town/city to have maybe not be extremely rich but enough to live properly - most stores or items is within half mile from your front door with plenty of people walking or biking if they prefer that or they can buy a car - it tends to be more flexable and a better living of life vs the US and other similar places where everything is decided by economics with no planning and a poor zoning system the US uses (IE: in the US you couldn't have a small store front for your house in almost every city/town - and likely if you could the house would have to be huge because they would require the BIZ floor to be at least 2,000sq ft and the house portion be the same vs Japan where they can have a very small house (people don't need large houses with large rooms; and smaller house and smaller more simple bedrooms work fine) and use a small portion as a store front. Anyways I'm rambling - but people need to wake up. If this was more normal it doesn't lead to people 'wanting more, more, more' and having to keep up with the Jones and just provides a better quality of life I feel. Of course not saying one place as it prefect; but we should look at good real world examples around the world, model after it while being open to adjustments that are well thought out and make it better.
At least Washington DC has a bus system. For many food deserts around North America, especially in medium-sized cities, there are limited to no public transportation options.
Mark Pemble try the south, it's even worse in the south!
also our nearest grocery store is 7 miles away. but we get there. I would say it's much worse here than it is in a city that has public transport. and you can keep the public transport, if I want that ,then I'll move to the city
@@earlwright3613 what is there also more of, both demographically and in crime numbers, in the south
Yes, try bringing ice cream home in the summer time on public transportation
@@robertsmith1865huh? Fruit and veg would be fine to take. Ice cream is unhealthy
Wow. My nearest grocery chain is only a block away. I can't imagine having to commute so far. If I really crave something I just walk, buy it and make it home in 10-15min. It really makes me put some of my worries in perspective.
You cant imagine driving 2 miles?
Wendy Hernandez Same here! We really take the smallest things for granted.
Joe Mama driving 2 miles isn’t the same as walking 2 miles, these people don’t have cars
@@michellebernal5668 the problem in her area is that the high level of crime drives the grocery stores away
now that she has become an advocate she should organize residents in the area into a group , name it and call the alderman to tell him they want tough policing in the area
@@JoeMama-dy6op you aren’t understanding, the woman said that she couldn’t afford a bag how would be afford to buy a car? Also, driving is definitely not the same is walking especially with her being 71 years old.
At 71, I can understand why she takes mass transit. However, a collapsible shopping cart would be a great benefit.
She said she couldn't afford to buy bags, howcan she afford a cart?
The only people who have those carts are old ladies.
@@jcobbs4523 she’s wearing nice clothes. she chooses not to afford bags/carts.
In Mexico and California there's literally cars like food trucks that sell items from inside. In fact my aunt used to do this and she would make at least 1 thousand a day, some days up to 5thousand selling the basics like tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, avacado, limes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, apples, and other fresh food then in another car she would sell staples like coffee, milk, eggs, meats, bread, soaps, toilet paper, herbs, teas ect. She also had someone make rounds for fresh Mexican bread
She would only target food deserts and largely populated apartments, she was the only one to do this and she was very successful.
She said "if there's a need for something this big....the money flows like water" she got stopped because laws changed and these cars became illegal in her area but for as long as she could she went on and paid the fines imposed because she said "people need to eat but do nothing to help the community"
I've always heard of America as "the land of freedom," but in reality, what I see is tons and tons of regulations, especially regarding zoning. If those zoning regulations were more lax, we could see more small local businesses developing in residential areas to meet the demands of that population. The best way to solve this kind of problem is not more state intervention but the other way around.
@RealJudyi In Italy they have rotating street food markets. And a population that don't steal more than they buy.
Food Deserts= Loss of income from constant theft of products= shut down said business and move to a economically safer area.
Oh hush, you're talking facts now.
I remember when NPR used to be somewhat decent.
Nah. Businesses just do not like making money selling products to willing customers. This is clearly a sign of these businesses choosing to not provide a service based purely on the race of the community. Totally. It has nothing to do with crime rates which would be remedied with more police because we actually hate the police. The police are racist as well, even the non-white ones. 🤡
@@rdred8693 That must have been a LONG time ago, NPR has been a joke for at least the last 15-20 years.😐
@@eastbaykidd8574 Late 90's iirc.
it's dreadful how slanted they are.
Toni looks AMAZING at 71 and yeah Southeast DC which im not too far from is definitely a food desert.
The problem is if you open a grocery store in a ghetto than it’s going to be robbed.
Yes that lady says it’s planned. No, it’s math. She gets free food and still complains. Ridiculous.
It's about way too many crackheads stealing from the supermarket. Way too many people getting into fights in the bottle and can room. The supermarket just breaks even with low sales . Eventually this supermarket closed down. Same thing happened to my CVS up the street. Too many crackheads shoplifting. Went out of business. I see the same thing happening with my local family dollar, and Walgreens. They take the baskets fill it up with food ,supplies and walk out the door with it. We still have Walmart way out in suburbs but shoplifting happens there too! It's More trouble than what it's worth to insure everything if crackheads r going to steal everything. I go dumpster diving. Or go to a food stand, 3 in this hood. One food stand has donated bread from a local supermarket, rarely picked up goes bad have to put it in the trash. Don't be one-sided on this. What would you do if your store was repeatedly shoplifted from? Leave the hood! 😡😥✌️
FINALLY! someone speaking some *truth* to why food deserts exist; the shitty citizens ruin it for everyone.
This is America. Businesses just want to make money. If they could actually sell their products without losing money due to theft or customers being on drugs and driving away good customers... they would.
And for anyone who says, "Well, they have iNsUrAnCe..."
If you get into a car accident... what happens to your monthly premium? The same thing happens for businesses when they get product stolen from them. After a certain amount of claims, insurance just does not accept the business as it is too risky.
So, quit with the nonsense of, "if you see someone stealing groceries, no you didn't". That mentality is what fuels the problem.
This happens when stores that sell wholesome food close down and leave. Why? Because they were sick of the crime, the rampant shoplifting and the vandalism. These people brought this all upon themselves.
Yep. It makes me laugh.
I ONLY feel sorrow for the honest and decent people who are stuck there.
American University used to have a food policy class and we studied this exact issue in DC. And we studied the policy of raw milk, the large waiting lists for community gardens, and farmers rights all in DC. It's cool to see others becoming aware of this issue thru such a large source as NPR.
Adelia it's all over America, has nothing to do with race
@Dev דבורה if she can help solve this issue with practical solutions, then yes- she's just what we need.
@@earlwright3613 I don't see where she mentioned race at all.
@@danieljellers the problem in her area is that the high level of crime drives the grocery stores away
now that she has become an advocate she should organize residents in the area into a group , name it and call the alderman to tell him they want tough policing in the area
You're being fed left-wing BS. Food deserts are the result of businesses shutting down because of rampant theft, vandalism and violence.
Before watching the video I had to comment because I can understand this. I took my mom to the DMV area and there were no grocery stores and restaraunts for MILESSS! I live in Dallas Tx and whether you are poor or rich, theres plenty of food, restaraunts and grocery stores. We were so annoyed at how far we had to go for everyday stores. Its really pathetic and makes no sense. Next time we go, we know where NOT to go. Geeze! This needs to change. Hope you're reading this city council in the DMV area.
Politicians do not care
its the crime rate that causes this and Dallas has restaurants and everything but their transportation system sucks without cars
@@ellerocvisionz It's not up to them anyway. They can't force foodstores to open or remain open in high-risk areas.
Those are pretty low standards for a food deserts. I had to ride my ride my bike 2 miles in college because i didn't have a car and we didn't have public transit. Stories also avoid areas of high theft because you can't make a profit. Just look a the latest Walmart videos shot in a Chicago Walmart. It had food all over the floor and nothing on the shelves because people are stealing most of the food. 4 out of 8 Walmart's just closed down because of a high rate of theft.
It’s not a conspiracy. It’s a business closing down because theft makes operating without a loss impossible.
No grocery store within 1/2 mile is considered a food desert? That's only a 10 minute walk or 5 minute bike ride... Definitely blown out of proportion.
Yeah, this is a non-issue. Growing up in a rural area, the closest grocery store was about 10 miles away for me. She's got public transportation. 1st world problems. And the worst part about it is that she expects the government to intervene.
Having grown up in a rural area myself, I understand the confusion behind your questions/thoughts. However, living and working in D.C. has opened my eyes to the very stark differences between rural and urban settings. There are many structural aspects that are such that you cannot compare the two. For example, we all know that most everyone living in a rural setting has a car or some mode of transportation. You have to-- there's really no other option. In D.C., and other cities, many don't have cars because of income, registration processes, and zoning laws (I can personally attest to how difficult it is to obtain a car in the city). You may think, oh, well take a bus, walk, or ride a bike. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Walking a mile, and then having to carry back groceries for your entire family is no easy task. Of course people do it (because they have to), but many are unable to due to age, physical inability, or lack of time. I could go on about this forever, but I just wanted to give a little context. No one should have to live miles and miles from food, rural or urban. However, when we're seeing drastic and obvious inequality within a city like D.C. (Where wealthier, and more white areas get at least 3 grocery stores within a few blocks), something needs to be done.
USDA-defined food deserts are classified differently for urban and rural settings - in rural areas, it's one mile, not 1/2.
She is 71,so can she endure the constant walking of total over a mile for a day or even every day?
If you’re like under 55-60 in good health it might not be a hassle, or if you don’t need to get food for like 4+ people every time you go
I live in Juneau Alaska most of our entire state is a food desert 😂
Don’t even get me started on the prices
Unpopular opinion: not sure if I feel sympathy after living a long time DC no company would invest on places where crime is rampant, and people rob and sack their grocery stores and then complaining why they left us all alone.... like is crazy to think actions have consequences.
Theft. No store can survive.
I dont live there but hve the people considered small vegetable container growing?
God bless this wonderful lady 🙏🌻.
Too much crime discourages supermarkets and shops in that space leads to food deserts.
I returned to the neighborhood in Detroit I lived in until 4th grade last year. One of my dads and some childhood buddies still live there. And I heard they were gentrifying slowly. I have lived in Los Angeles and its suburbs and now live in Boston. Plenty of grocery market options. For reference, I live in a gentrifying community but it's considered to be a good neighborhood and kind of artsy. I live close to an inner city subway and right next door is a housing project, and right next to that is a regional grocery store, Stop n Shop. I walk 10 minutes the other way there is a Whole Foods.
Back in the old neighborhood in Detroit, there used to be independently owned grocery stores, 2 of them. They are both gone. And the neighborhood was in much worst shape with crime and things like then than it is now. But now that place is a food desert. I have no idea where my dad and stepmom shop for groceries but thankfully they both have cars. I bet they shop somewhere near where they work.
Food desserts are going to grow when these grocery stores and pharmacies move out of DC due to crime.
Obviously security and shoplifting are major factors in the lack of food markets in high crime areas.
And what makes you so sure fear of crime keeps supermarkets out of major cities,Vito?
@@jeromewade4110 oh, let me guess. The reason that supermarkets don't locate in high-crime areas is because of "racism". And you actually believe that?
Foliage outside the homes gets better nourishments homedepots you see on metro. Public transit you see huge piles of fertilizer potting soils
No Toni, it’s not planned. It’s math. Just take your free food and appreciate it.
So basically you need denser and better mixed communities, way better public transport and a city that isn't build for cars. I'm from Europe and it was pretty shocking for me that I couldn't go anywhere without having a car. I grew up riding my bike or using public transport to get around the city.
I know right! It's soo weird to watch American stuff here in Europe. In my town of 20.000 people there are 5 different grocery CHAINS, one of them has beside the big stores also small old ones. They're so cute and magical and scattered all around town, like every 200 m there is one. But we also go to those on the other side of the town, which are like 1,5 km away. On one side, I just wanna say to Americans: half a mile or even a mile is not much of a walk, don't be lazy, cardio keeps you healthy, but then I remember that it's still wrong because it's mostly black communities and also there are the disabled and elderly and that those crazy americans have guns everywhere. I can't even imagine being scared to walk around town in daylight. We have these cool things alled gun control and civilized society here.
Planned? No. It's entirely natural. Why did you move there? It was cheap. Why was it cheap? It lacks services and amenities that would drive up demand, and the price. Why is no one building supermarkets? Crime. Lack of profit. The same reason you aren't building one there.
South East DC is also crime ridden....
Because being repeatedly shoplifted, robbed, looted and burned is not a sustainable business model.
I was thinking, maybe an idea would be for people to buy frozen food or freeze it themselves the leftover, that way they can have a stock of good vegetable and fruits in their freezer, so they eat more fruit and vegetables. Legumes when bought dry can keep for a long time and can be hydrated and then boiled for good nutrients, like protein and fibers.
I hope English is your second language. You sound like you had a stroke while typing that.
Their communities are NOT so poor that they cannot have grocery stores on most streets of poor neighbourhoods. This is Washington DC. This is not suburbia.
Thomas Sowell has an excellent clip on this: "Food Deserts: Why Poor Black People Pay More For Food".
Why not look at WHY these stores left ???? THEFT.....FEELING UNSAFE INTIMIDATED ....who wants to invest in such a situation
Why isnt a pedicab, tricycle not made an option for transport, an alternative to walking?
Hard to stay in business when your constantly robbed.
Another grocery store closed down in DC due to high thefts 😂
Hey Toni, how can a business survive without profits and all the shoplifting?It’s not an accident they leave that neighborhood. You get free food and you’re still complaining.
She is retired. Which means she worked and paid into the system with her tax money just like you and I...how is it free money??
How much is a bus ride?
At least the NPR report recognizes that high rates of violent crime is a major factor.
As if that makes a difference,bbface21!
I've always heard of America as "the land of freedom," but in reality, what I see is tons and tons of regulations, especially regarding zoning. If those zoning regulations were more lax, we could see more small local businesses developing in residential areas to meet the demands of that population. The best way to solve this kind of problem is not more state intervention but the other way around.
Food swamps & food deserts, unfortunately, exist throughout the country in poor rural and urban areas. That's a shameful tragedy. Healthy food is a basic human need and access to it a basic human right. So my question is, how does one start a grocery in these areas?
Starting one is relatively easy. It's KEEPING it open with rampant theft, etc., that is the hard part.
People did. These types of locations have the demand. It lacks supply cause the ghettos chase businesses away. Grocery stores operate on thin margins. The problem is when you're getting robbed, burglarized, and having your property destroyed by the same folks you're trying to provide products for. The same neighborhoods who admonish policing, advocate for "restorative justice", and think that businesses can afford getting broken into because "insurance"
I don't talk about the person portrayed the in movie but just in general; For a healthy person walking 0.5 miles (0.8km) should be doable. That's about 15-20 minutes per way.
Patrick Albrecht what if you are a 71 year old woman who has to carry back a weeks worth of grocery’s in many times cold or snowy weather ( since it’s dc). Even for a healthy person the idea of walking that distance for a basic human need is absurd.
@@uzzielhernandez8945 Even a healthy person walking half a mile in the winter is absurd? No, you're absurd.
800 metres its a 10 minute walk for the average person. It would take longer if there are very large roads to cross. Not a unreasonable distance to walk to a supermarket. But if travelling 5 km by bus takes more than an hour then thats a public transport infrastructure problem as many people could walk the 5 km in the same time the bus that took an hour.
@@nickhiscock8948 what does that have to do with the video?
@@robinsss access to proper reliable public transport gives residents access to a wider range of shopping areas therefore more food options without needing to rely on what is only within 5km
My God that's sad to have to travel that far just to buy food it's messed up.
Food deserts are caused by high crime period.
Why can't the major food retailers open a store in the neighborhood where people live?
shoplifters,attack on employees
They'd LOVE to but if you're going to be looted out of existence how are you going to stay in business?
They can be protested for gentrifying the neighborhood.
Blacks, that's why! Critical race fact!
Maybe someone in this area should start a store and fill the need. Start your own grocery store and you will make millions
@A Fury . A local should start a store and fill this need.
I live in a poor neighborhood in San Francisco and there is a Whole Foods within walking distance. I have been to many cities and many poor neighborhoods and this is the first poor neighborhood that I have lived in that is not a food desert.
Welcome to USA.
This shit only happens in Black areas however.
@@buyerofsorts tf. businesses but their businesses where they will get the most money. Dont't play the race card buddy
@@cameron4855 Am I incorrect when I state that it only happens in black areas?
@@buyerofsorts yes ur incorrect. It happens in areas with the highest poverty rates and crime rates. If you have a business are you going to put it in an area with high crime rates or low crime rates? Just wondering
@@cameron4855 Seriously!? You can't connect the very larger DOTS in front of you? Which areas have the highest poverty and crime rates in the U.S.A.?! Hmmm.... let me think..... And I have news for you. There were plenty of stores and shops initially but they all packed up and left! Are we on the same page yet?
This wasn’t planned. Grocery stores are just not viable in areas that are vulnerable to shoplifting and vandalism.
Can at least 1 sain person explain to me a simple fact. Why in Poland where i come from if a situation like this was brought to light by any form of media including social media there would not only be self sufficent gardens long in place but also at least 10 business plans in the making by people that would flock into there to take advantage out of the scarcity of resources available. I think i know the answer - black mob violence.
Why would any sane company want to put a location in "low income community"? After the Summer of Love in 2020, you're asking for it. Plus the "equity" laws regarding theater are absurd. You get what you vote for. Clean your communities up and stop acting like animals.
Why do you people have a Wikipedia link directly underneath your vid?
Its a new thing youtube is doing to any government funded broadcasters, even if they are only partially government funded. Its on PBS and similar stations as well.
So ignorant jackasses like *you people* can read it and get edumacated.
"You people... Who is us people?"
Would you open stores in crime ridden black area? Why not?! Shameful!
Of course when you arbitrarily include low-income as part of the definition of a food desert for purely ideological reasons, you'll find it matches low-income areas. It's a manufactured result, a bit of propaganda which NPR is spreading here.
Two miles is not that far. It's a leisurely one-hour walk. Any able-bodied person should be very capable of this. It's unfortunate that a 70-year-old woman has no younger family or friends to do her shopping for her, but that's beside the point.
This woman lives in a nice, clean apartment and gets high-quality food - all for free! She then accuses those paying for this of some dehumanizing racist conspiracy against her! And NPR spreads this view in a sympathetic light without any qualification! What a joke!
These neighborhoods don't have proper grocery stores with fresh produce because the locals rob and vandalize such stores and choose to eat junk food over healthy food, even when the junk food is more expensive. There are poor neighborhoods of immigrant communities from East Asia and elsewhere that have plenty of fresh produce.
Bribing and forcing grocery stores into these neighborhoods is not going to get the locals to start eating broccoli instead of chips and soda. This is a delusional fantasy concocted by those who haven't actually seen the people they pretend to be so concerned about.
Hmmm. Interesting response.
Ood that are not local small stores nearby. Like no brand stores.
Rodrigo it can be blamed on the crime rate ins these low-income areas
Not so odd when shoplifters get away scot free.
I do shopping in dollar store... but NOT every time ... hahaha.. I do shopping also in Alberston, QFC, Safeway, Aldi, Costco, Wincoo, FredMeyer... but NOT every time always at the same store... NOT every time !!! ... just one or another store every week... But NOT every time at same store !!! .. The reasons : prices... items.. product... conveniences.. my moods on that day.
I don’t own a car because I am blind in one eye. So Walk to my nearest grocery store and I get a cab 🚕 back that way I have a months worth of food.
Something that's planned? If the demand for fresh groceries were there, a store would scoop up the opportunity.
She looks excellent considering she is
actually 71 years old.
Her facial skin tissue looks like that of a 30 year old.
Come on, 800 metres is nothing. You cannot have a grocery strore at EVERY 800 metres.
Yeah, I kinda agree, but you have to consider she's in her 70s-I know she looks younger. Also there's the disabled and really old elderly in like 80s and 90s that can barely walk. But most of all, it's not fair because it only happens in poor and/or mostly black neighbourhoods. I would make EVERYONE walk at least half a mile to the grocery store (except old ladies). It will be soooo funny to watch fatass white american men to stop playing video games and go on a walk. 🤣
It's a concern, but it seems to be more of an issue about transportation.
I think in the future most buses will be replaced by single person automated pods. They will go right to where you are, you ride them directly to the destination, in this case a grocery store, load the groceries, then it will drive you back and drop off you and the groceries, and it goes back to the nearest pod station to recharge.
Of course some will still have their own cars, so they can have the one they want and not have to wait for it to arrive, and might want to hack it so it can't be controlled by an outside computer.
But whether they do it with automated pods or traditional buses, it is an issue of transportation. Rather than trying to dictate that a private company builds a grocery store where they don't want to, we should enable people to get to the grocery store.
Oh my god it very sad to here that should travel so long to get the food.. I
Nearest grocery store for me is 10 miles away, I would hate to be so close to one
how unfortunate. maybe you would like to discuss your problem with living in a food desert?
No, they chose to live there. Just like she chose to live where she does. It's not a problem, it's a choice. She probably chose it because it was cheap, but if it became more desirable, demand, and rents would go up, and she couldn't afford to live there anymore.
Half a mile away from a grocery store? That’s like 99% of Americans. What do you want the grocery store to be right next door to you? The CDC recommends people should try to walk 5 miles a day and people are griping about a 1/2 mile walk. We are getting so soft.
this woman literally had to go to Maryland to go get groceries and she lives in D.C. it’s 😞
She has lived in an area for 28 years that she considers a food desert. At any point in time during those 28 years did she consider moving?
It takes money to move, along with having enough money to afford a deposit for rent, moving truck, boxes to put your belongongs in, and etc. If you're utilizing food stamps, taking the bus, and on a limited fixed income your probably not going to be able to afford living in areas with actual grocery stores rather than a dollar general.
She's trying to walk too fast, maybe for the camera? And I'd wear some running shoes, maybe rescued from the trash, rather than good boots like that, for a "long distance" grocery run. Those shopping cart things associated with little old ladies are a Godsend, because they can hold a fuckton of groceries. On Food Stamps, I'd buy essentials to get me through the month first, stuff like oatmeal, pork chops, etc., stuff that lasts and you can buy meat and freeze it.
Food deserts suck, but so does trying to run a market where theft is a huge thing. In my town the downtown Safeway closed and ostensibly it was because of a parking validation conflict with the building owner, but theft was huge and the place was basically ghetto as fuck.
I though she would want to ask PEOPLE to open a grocery store nearby.
Shopping for food or just about anything else is concentrated along busy streets. Where you find fast food you also find grocery stores. There is no such thing as a food desert. If you can get to a fast food outlet you can also shop at a grocery store within a few blocks of that McDonalds. It's all about choices.
When hasn't there been such a thing as a food desert,Cutbelow?
*This is modern day "FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC APARTHEID" by corporations and governments that fail to govern the well being of its citizens.*
When financial profits are put ahead of creating societal abundance in the lives of everyone, apartheid takes place ie. a financial and economic vacuum is created in one area for the benefit of another. It creates a win-lose situation and not a win-win situation.
Understanding corporate finance is critical to being able to understand the reasons why this scarcity of profits thinking kills economies and eventually the corporations that feed on their own greed instead of giving to create more abundance. Finance still obeys the law of conservation of energy and other laws of physics (Bachelier, late 1800s).
*"For those who have much, more will be given. But for those who have little, even the little they do have will be taken from them." - Matthew **25:29*
You forgot to add the black mob violence into your very simplified equation. In Poland where i come from there would be self sufficient gardens and more than 10 business plans in the making if that kind of story would be brought to light by any media including social media.
"It isn't just about black people, it's about poor people" - Right, so maybe it isn't about black people at all but exclusively about poverty?
Because the US is a largely, but not completely, race-based caste system, the Venn diagram for "of color" and "poor" largely overlap, but not completely. There are poor white people too, and what's funny is, generally their accents, lack of (and contempt for) education, and general attitudes make them very likely to stay on the bottom.
@@alexcarter8807
Nice classism you got there, seriously.
So much contempt for poor whites, and nothing but sympathy for poor blacks.
Nice you feel into the trap of Identity politics, which keeps both at each others throats.
A4 means anacostia
The only thing that can work in black neighbourhoods is a pawn shop , you can become a millionaire as a pawn shop owner in poor black neighbourhoods. It’s funny videos like this make them look like victims, they fail to show how urban black neighbourhoods treat businesses, I had to step in and help a Chinese senior dude, getting punched in the face by some random black dude for politely asking him to leave the store, nobody wants to get hurt while conducting normal everyday business, stop committing horrendous amounts of crime in your immediate areas
2 miles isnt far. Whats thst 5 bucks in a uber?
What's a banana cost? $10?
Traffic is denser in DC than, say, middle America
No grocery store can survive if there are other grocery store every 800 meters away. Eventually, people would choose the better grocery stores, and get the less desirable grocery stores closed.
Hahaha Tell that to Europe. We have like 5 store chains in one small town and noone's gone out of business yet.
please, walk, is good for you
They keep robbing the stores
It reminds me of Marie Antoinette's 'If you don't have bread, I wish you could eat sweets.'
👍
You dont have to get cars or grocery stores, all you need is change into a high income neighbourhood to loose your victim status according to this mockumantary.
Firstly if entrepreneurs are scared of their neighborhood is their fault, moreover half a mile is quite easy to walk or they could share a car, maybe 3/4 household could buy a car and use it to go shopping together... I don't this is a government problem
Not as simple as that.
@@ibenzawla Why would a store open up in a dangerous neighborhood?
@@rdred8693 That's a simple minded way of putting it. Far more complicated than that. So many reasons why those neighborhoods are dangerous. Plenty of blame to go around and some goes to the community itself. But it's clear that there is no REAL effort by those in power to do anything about it. In fact they see all this as an opportunity. Opportunity to control and defeat an entire people. These are my own people and I can assure you that I go hard on them. I keep telling them the other side wants to bring you down and you keep making it easier for them. In reality though society has completely failed them. This is a fact.
@@ibenzawla Do you really think those in charge really care about poor white people too?
The fact is, the powers that be just want more power for themselves.
They will do anything to achieve it
There is a reason BLM was embraced by corporate America, and Occupy Wall Street was shut down so fast.
They want us all fighting each other, rather than them.
@@rdred8693 Yes its challenging for all but I can assure you no other race face the same challenges as blacks and there is no debate on that. In fact the entire system is designed to make sure they are always left behind. Now I wouldn't have said so years ago when I first came the US. In fact I used to put the blame on them. But I was super naive back then. Digging a little made me realize how monumental a challenge my people face. Just one tiny example. The current opioid crisis ravaging rural America is seen as a "publice health emergency " and rightly so BTW. Compare that to the Crack epidemic in the 70s and 80s. The prison industrial complex saw that as a major opportunity. Politicians from both sides of the isle delivered. But then guess what? The challenges that these store owners face today are partly connected to that inhumane policy. Then there is housing, education, health care, infrastructure... There is nothing spared.
Retired and have to get food stamps smh
God Bless her if she can get 'em, in my experience if you make more than about $50 a month you'll only get about $10 in food stamps a month.
Food Stamps are one of the best gov't programs ever, every dollar in food stamps stimulates $2 or $3 in the economy.
Somehow ALL those business people who want to make a profit won't do so with food? SOmehow they won't open a store in a "food dessert"? Supply and Demand! IF THERE REALLY WAS A DEMAND IN THESE FOOD DESSERTS THEN THE BUSINESSES WOULD OPEN UP. WHen grocery stores do open up the people DO NOT BUY!
"Fresh food" is NOT purchased in these locations. THAT IS WHY THERE AREN"T ANY GROCERY STORES!
Use consistent thinking, are corporations greedy and will do anything for a nickel? Are there all these hungry people with money who cannot get food? Common critical thinking, please.
David Eagen there was a station in Japan that only one person used, that should be enough
Celina, then why don't YOU go and open one up for that one person since you think it is so just. That way you can get paid for your time and effort to run the store. PUT UP OR SHUT UP!
I find it hard to believe that not enough people will be willing to buy fresh foods and vegetables, red meats, poultry, and vegetables every day or on most days from a green grocery store and even if the prices are only slightly higher they wouldn't do so. The Black Community may be the poorest racial ethnicity in the United States, but there is enough wealth in the Black Community to have start green grocery stores in areas where their populations predominate and enough wealth even for a lot of people from these communities to purchase the items from green grocery stores enough for them to make a profit.
@@musafawundu6718 You might find it hard to believe, but it's true. Most poor Americans - even many middle class Americans - have a totally degraded food culture, do not cook, and prefer to eat junk food instead of anything even slightly healthy.
Go to these neighborhoods and you'll see obese people with obese children buying giant bags of chips (crisps in UK English) and bottles of soda with their food stamps. They wouldn't know what to do with fresh vegetables if you gave them them for free.
Meanwhile in France, all children learn to cook and appreciate good, fresh food, including fruits and vegetables, in public schools.
This is a deep cultural and educational failing in America that's being deliberately misinterpreted for ideological and political reasons.
@@jeremylavine
Leaders of communities must make the efforts to have green grocery stores available within reasonable distance of all residential areas. They should also institute education from junior secondary school through senior secondary school on nutritious foods. From elementary through high schools they should be offering lunches with properly cooked foods low of sugars and saturated fats.
Even the poorest districts have the means to significantly alter and improve things with regards to what is prevailing now if they had the political will to do so.
but please don't just say it's a race thing , because that's total bs. I live in the deep south and their are plenty of white and black folks stranded in a food desert. we grow a lot of our food. also business isn't going to come to an area if there is no profit. it's about the choices people make during their life and things that happened to them . but it's not about black or white! ok? ok!
Yes but this report is specific to DC. Every region is different but places like DC, NY or the entire NE are actually far more racially unequal than anywhere else in the nation including the deep south. Try taking the DC metro and watch as the people disembark. This is one area that Democrats have completely failed and I say so as a registered Dem.
in certain spaces and places, it is due to a race thing. however, it's more so of an economical and social problem.
They do nothing to protect those types of resources
Obesity in the Black community is a serious health problem, especially among women, many of whom are enormous. Food deserts will encourage the obese to be more physically active in the pursuit of sustenance, and should encourage neighborhood vegetable gardening and raising of poultry for a healthy and plentiful food supply. The destruction of community supermarkets due to nonstop shoplifting and flash mobs may prove to be a blessing after all. Eat more 🍎🌽 & 🐟 instead of 🍔🍕 & 🍦.
Is this a joke or parody? Really? I am 69 and I powerwalk for over 2 hours three times a week. I have no car and my commute to the store is longer than hers. I walk further to the bus stop than she does, and I have never thought of myself as under privileged by living in a food desert. Such whiney people. For me it is good exercise. Geesh!
Ahh.. The nonsense. Let's break this down shall we
She retired yet she doesn't have a pension? Has EBT? Where's her husband?
Crime is also a factor?...crime is the biggest factor. When places like Walmart and a giant have to close because of thousands to millions of dollars lost via theft, that's an issue.
It's not about race. It's about reality. Many people make poor choices in life and expect to be bailed out.
She can move her ass to Nebraska, afford a house and some land. Grow food and purchase what she needs. She's not serious about her life.
Something tells me that this woman will continue to waste her time and money running all over the city to save 1$, even if a local supermarket opens up.
Poor neighborhood is a euphemism for black neighborhood. those who are smart enough to know what that means don't live there any more. Day ain't gots no stos.
She sounds stupid saying it is planned - it isn't directly planned it is a result of economics which she might want to take a class on. At the core, a poor area will have less stores vs a rich area as it can't support (afford) many stores which is a BUSINESS. Anyone running a business knows you place it for return on investment and a food store is not a public service. She instead should be trying to get the city or government to open a non-profit food store as that could be an option but likely still far away from her. Or she could go after the bigger fish like proper community planning where you don't end up with one side of the city poor and another rich that ends up creating a larger difference then just a food store. One of the main problems in the US was most locations/cities/etc were not planned to be an integrated area (stores,schools,walking/biking paths,etc) - Japan is by far one of the best places where planning with proper zoning allows for easy public transit using fast trains, stores can be built on the 1st floor of a very small house, etc -- which all lead up to functional communities with public transit options if needed. However, no one is pushing this in America which will just continue to cause issues like in this video. This will likely never be corrected in America until law makers stop going after money and power and truly want to help their people. We honestly need to make every person in power (town/city/etc) take a class on proper known working community planning and zoning - and better yet make them take it again if they get into office and require all highschool students to take a class on it. For example in a small town/city in Japan - people who don't take on normal jobs will often get a small house with a small store front on the 1st floor (next to other houses with the same) where they can provide a small service for the area or products. This allows those people and therefore town/city to have maybe not be extremely rich but enough to live properly - most stores or items is within half mile from your front door with plenty of people walking or biking if they prefer that or they can buy a car - it tends to be more flexable and a better living of life vs the US and other similar places where everything is decided by economics with no planning and a poor zoning system the US uses (IE: in the US you couldn't have a small store front for your house in almost every city/town - and likely if you could the house would have to be huge because they would require the BIZ floor to be at least 2,000sq ft and the house portion be the same vs Japan where they can have a very small house (people don't need large houses with large rooms; and smaller house and smaller more simple bedrooms work fine) and use a small portion as a store front. Anyways I'm rambling - but people need to wake up. If this was more normal it doesn't lead to people 'wanting more, more, more' and having to keep up with the Jones and just provides a better quality of life I feel. Of course not saying one place as it prefect; but we should look at good real world examples around the world, model after it while being open to adjustments that are well thought out and make it better.
It’s 2022 and this is freaking America 🇺🇸 shame